Socrates had once said “Happiness is attainable by human effort.” Happiness is a topic that is often misinterpreted. For many people, happiness equates to having everything they want in the world and even if one does get everything they want in the world, they become blind to all the other, more important things they could’ve enjoyed with their time. Socrates was right about the concept of happiness. It is more than a happy feeling. Happiness is rather the process of discovering who one is by pursuing their own values. It is achieved through persistence. Happiness is caused by a sense of accomplishment in a person and it is contagious to everyone else around them. Happiness is the fulfillment of one’s own needs. No one on this earth will get everything they want in life. Happiness really comes down to one’s own values and learning experiences. If you still think the glass is half empty, it is time to change your mindset and simply start appreciating what you already have.
Values are the key components of happiness. Values are the things that people think is especially important in their own lives and the aspects of life people would like to have complete in their lives. Happiness differs for every individual and it is up to the individual to discover what they truly value. One’s values form the basis of one’s happiness, whether it be family, love, or career. If an individual is unsure of what their true values are, they can explore them by keeping themselves busy with a variety of activities. Someone can also find what they truly value by having a positive outlook on life. Once one finds their values and achieves self-discovery, they have the potential to be happy. Some values may be very general such as compassion, forgiveness, courage, continuous learning, personal growth, or pride. One may find happiness in making a difference in the world whereas another person may find happiness in accountability and fairness. One may prefer solitude as their source of happiness whereas another person may find happiness by being in the company of others. There are countless values out there for an individual to find their true happiness in. In order for one to attain happiness, they must really love what they are doing as a living and they must try to achieve what they want in life while still portraying gratitude for what they already have.
Ever since the days of Ancient Greece, philosophers questioned the concept of happiness and believed that reducing distress and anxiety was the key to a happy life. They eventually found that minimizing pain is not the key to happiness and that it is rather learning from certain lessons and struggles in life that trigger happiness. Over time, bumpy roads in life can make an individual discover what is important to them and make them develop a sense of accomplishment. Following one’s own values versus turning to temporary things marks the difference between true and artificial happiness. Basic values make people individuals and they vary from person to person. Making the right choices, focusing on both self-improvement and gratitude, and making time for oneself are also crucial components of happiness. In fact, the scientific formula of happiness consists of genetics and values. Half of an individual's happiness is based off of their genes while the other half is based off of the fulfillment of their values.
However, one’s values doesn’t always dictate their happiness since values can change throughout the span of one’s life. My values may differ from yours but all the same, happiness is dependent on one’s own values. Not everyone can be happy all the time throughout their lives but can learn to become happier by exploring their values and maintaining a positive outlook on life.
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